Collapsible table-stand for use in automobiles



K. H. RICHTER 2,921,824

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE-STAND FOR USE IN AUTOMOBILES Jan. 19, 1960 Filed March24, 1959 m R. T mu" uc .R H T R U K 5 3 COLLAPSIBLE TABLE-STAND FOR USEIN AUTOMOBILES Kurt H. Richter, Deer Park, N.

Application March 24, 1959, Serial No. 801,619

3 Claims. I (Cl. 311-21) This invention relates to a collapsible tablefor use in an automobile and alternatively for use outside of theautomobile.

Many collapsible tables for use in conjunction with the back of anautomobile seat have serious disadvantages in that for example, thetable is easily collapsed or disengaged by inadvertently hitting it withthe knees or that the base of the table is disposed against theunsupported fabric on the back of the front car seat, etc.

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible portabletable for use either on the back of the front seat of an automobile orfor use on the front seat of the automobile or alternatively for use asa table or even a chair when utilized outside of the automobile.

In short the collapsible table of this invention has many uses both as atable and for supporting objects.

It is another object of this invention to provide a table having springloaded locking means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a well built tableeasily set up and easily collapsed and of inexpensive construction.

The invention is illustrated by an embodiment shown in the accompanyingdrawing and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the table disposed on the back of thefront seat of an automobile with the base of the table disposed againstthe rigid support plate of the car seat,

Fig. 2 is a section view of the seat of Fig.1 taken on line 2'2 thereof,

Fig. 3 is a section view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the collapsed seat showing the pair ofremoveable hanger supports disposed in their respective retaining clipssecured to the undersurface of the table,

Fig. 5 is a section view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a view of a tubular hanger support partly in section andshowing a spring disposed therein,

Fig. 7 is a section view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a section view showing the manner of securing the spring inthe terminal button,

Fig. 9 is a detailed construction showing the manner of hingedlysecuring the swivel arm to the base,

Fig. 10 is a side view of the table disposed on the front of the frontseat of a car, and

Fig. 11 is a side view of the device when arranged as a table or chairor stool.

The table of this invention is a sturdy device, foolproof againstaccidently collapsing, and locked adjustably in a positive manner thatrequires manual unlocking.

Turning to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the table comprises a platform 10 madepreferably from a wooden base 11 of suitable thickness and a sheetplastic top 12 for example, Formica, secured thereto as by adhesive.

The platform 10 is surrounded with a U-shaped tubular, preferablyaluminum tubing 13, disposed in a suitable groove in the wooden base 12as to suitably extend above the sheet 11 thereby forming a ledge aroundthe table top (Fig. 4). The tubing 13 ends 14 extend suit- United StatesPatent 0 2,921,824 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 ice .rotatably secured in themiddle of the base of the member 18 and then secured by a conventionalrivet to a straight tubular member 20. A tubular inner member,

22 of suitable diameter is slidably disposed in member 20. As shown inFig. 2 member 20 is provided with a plurality of suitablyspaced-apartrapertures 23. Member 22 is swingably secured by aconventional rivet to a conventional bracket 24 (Fig. 4) having a pairof spacedapart depending legs 25 (Fig. 2).

A pair of removeable hangers 28 are provided with tubular straightmembers 29 secured by a rivet 30 to a suitably curved bar member 31.Each member 29 is provided with a suitable aperture 32 adjacent its endand a single coil spring 33 having a pair of outwardly urged legs 34 isdisposed suitably inside the tubular member 29.

As shown in Fig. 8, the spring 33 is provided with a cylindrical button35 secured to leg 34 by means of solder 36.

As shown in the drawing each of the legs of the U- shaped element 18 isprovided with a plurality of suitably spaced-apart apertures 40 in whichthe buttons 35 of hangers 28 are selectively disposed to lock therespective hanger 18 at a suitable selected length in a respectiveupright portion of said member 18.

Also tubular member 22 is provided with a suitable aperture adjacent itsfree end disposed in tubing 20 and a coil spring is secured therein asin hangers 28 so that the button of the spring protrudes lockingly intothe apertures :23 of element 20.

The clamp 19 is preferably made of nylon and therefore needs nolubrication. Clamps 15 are made of metal and are fixedly secured toelement 18.

A pair of suitable conventional seizure spring clips 45 are secured tothe bottom wooden 12 portion of the table and the hangers seized thereinwhen the table is collapsed and dismantled (Fig. 4).

The bottom wooden portion 12 of the table is provided with a pair ofsuitable cylindrical cavities 46 to receive a pair of separate tubularlegs 47 when the table functions as a stool or table outside of a car(Fig. 11).

As shown in Fig. 10, the table can be adjusted for use on the front ofthe front car seat. And as shown in Fig. 11 the table can be used as apicnic table or outdoor stool, etc.

This table has many uses besides those shown as it can for example (Fig.1), be lowered to extend in a horizontal plane with the back seat of theautomobile thereby forming a bed for a child. It can of course besemi-collapsed so that the table 18 rests against the element 18 whilethe device is hung from the back of the front seat. Clearly thisinvention is of broad scope and not limited to the illustrativeembodiment shown.

I claim:

1. A collapsible table-stand for use primarily inside an automobilecomprising a rectangular table platform; a U-shaped platform tubingdisposed around the front edge and both sides of said platform andhaving extension portions extending suitably beyond each side of theplurality of suitably spacedapart locking apertures therein;telescopic:v linear tubular means hingedly secured at "2,921,82 g r v f'f one end to the bottom wall of said table platform and hingedlysecured at the other end to the base of said iU-shaped-"frame member; apairv of t sha'ped tubular hangers each having a suitably long arm ofsuitable diameter for insertion into the legs of said U-shaped' framemember and having an aperture adjacent the end of said a long arm and asingle coil spring having a buttontherein disposed in each lon'g'arm ofsaid hanger and through 10 the aperture thereof, whereby said long armsof said hangers'are slidingly adjustable in the legs of said U- shapedframe member and locked thereto by engagement .of'said button throughsaid apertures of said frame member.

2. The table of claim '1 wherein the telescopic tubular means consistsof'a suitably smaller inner tube having a suitable aperture adjacent itsend disposed slidingly in a suitably larger exterior tube having lockingapertures therein and a spring having a pair of biased legs dis- Y Y 4 a1 posed in said inner tube; said spring having a button secured-to oneleg thereof said button being urged through the aperture of said smallerinner tube and through a locking aperture 0f said exterior tube to lockthe telescopic tubes firmly and against accidental unlocking.

3. The table of claim 2 wherein the table platform is provided with apair ofsuita'ble cavities in its undersunface, and a.- pair of legelements adapted to be frictionally secured in said cavities; wherebysaid table is converted from a hangingtype table into a self-supportingtable-chair. 7

-ReferencesCited in the file of this patent, UNITED STATES PATENTS2,556,724 Hubsch June 12, 1951 2,693,400 Erickson Nov. 2, 1954 2,741,521Bell et a1. Apr. 10, 1956 2,856,251 1 Garrison Oct. 14, 1958 2,881,039Guzman Apr. 9, 1959

